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Bishop Search Listening Events Start Saturday:
Search Committee Can't Wait to Hear from You!
Without feedback and guidance from you, we on the Bishop Search Committee can't know your thoughts, hopes, dreams, and aspirations regarding the next bishop for the diocese. Lots of people are signing up for the four Listening Events, and there's still time to register for one
.
Register here.
Dates for the Listening Events are:
- Feb. 10: Incarnation, Santa Rosa
- Feb. 17: St. Peter's, Red Bluff
- Feb. 24: St Alban's, Arcata
- March 10: St. John's, Roseville
In the video at right, the Revs. Kate Sefton
and Matt Warren discuss the upcoming Bishop Search Listening Events and Parish Forums. Kate explains why she's excited about the regional Listening Events, and Matt describes how the in-church Parish Forums will be helpful to the process.
Parish Forums:
Clergy, vestry, parish administrators, or anyone else who has a say about the parish calendar: please schedule a Parish Forum! This is a time for you to discuss the Bishop Search within your community, take notes, and send the feedback along to the committee. Because we need all your responses by March 24, it is critical that you get these on the calendar right away.
You can find guidance about how to structure this and what questions to answer here.
Please remember that even if you are having a parish forum (and wouldn't it be great if every congregation did that?), we still encourage you to attend Listening Events. The conversations will be different with different groups involved, allowing a richer and more complete picture of who we are and where we are going. There will also be a clergy breakout session at the Listening Events, an opportunity unique to these gatherings. Finally, the Listening Events will also include members of the Search Committee who can respond to your process questions live and in person. So both are beneficial!
Thank you for keeping the search process and all involved in your prayers!
Can't Wait to Meet the Search Committee?
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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
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Architect Builds on His Past to Envision Future as Priest
By Lori Korleski Richardson, Interim Communications Director
Since the Rev. Dave Rickert was ordained a transitional deacon in June 2017, "I actually have enjoyed jumping around," he says, both figuratively and literally. He's been splitting his time between Trinity, Folsom and St. Jude's, Cupertino, in the Diocese of El Camino Real, where he works with extra-active youth.
Rickert will be ordained to the sacred order of priests at
7 p.m. this Thursday, Feb. 8, at Trinity, Folsom, 803 Figueroa St. Clergy: red stoles; reception to follow.
Rickert's first career as an architect and experience as a father of special-needs children have encouraged him to think of many different ways to show children the abundant love God has for them.
(Continue reading)
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Celebrations of New Ministry
On Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m., the celebration of new ministry for the Rev. Bradley Helmuth will be held at Holy Trinity, Nevada City. All are invited to attend this event. Clergy: white stoles.
On Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m., the celebration of new ministry for the Rev. Dr. Daniel London will be held at Christ Church, Eureka. Clergy: white stoles.
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Holy Land 2018 Pilgrims Return
Bishop Barry and the Rev. Ann Hallisey take a knee in front of the group they led Jan. 24- Feb. 3 to the Holy Land, with Jerusalem shining behind them. A few slideshows of photos the pilgrims sent in can be found here; look for more photos and a story about their trip in the Aurora (and on the diocesan website) next week.
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Safe Church Update
Changes are coming to Safe Church in the next few weeks. The diocese has been preparing to transition to the online services offered by the wider church and that site is almost ready.
"In the next couple of weeks, there will be more information about how to use our new online system," said the Rev. Anne Clarke, Lifelong Christian Formation Coordinator for the diocese. "The biggest change will be that each congregation will have its own administrator, who will help individuals in the congregation register to take the training or a background check. Someone from each congregation should have received an email this week with information about this; if you wish to change the administrator that we designated, or add another, please email me at
[email protected]
."
In-person trainings are still available as well; please contact Rev. Anne if you would like to schedule one.
The Rev. Debra Warwick-Sabino, who created and hosted the online Safe Church training courses for many years, said, "It truly was an honor for me ... During that time many of you have shared some of personal stories of harassment or abuse. Many of you have called to talk about questions you had. I have enjoyed each and every online or phone or in person meeting that came about as a result of your taking the Safer Church online course. They were all sacred connections." Rev. Deb added that if anyone needs to complete the training before the new site is up and running, you can email her at [email protected]. She will email you the course and the quiz you need in order to receive the Certificate of Training.
Said Rev. Anne: "I want to thank the Rev. Debra Warwick-Sabino for her many years of stewarding this program, which has been an incredibly important ministry for our diocese, and for her help in transitioning to this new system!"
May we all keep our eyes and ears open and continue to protect the safety of those that are vulnerable in our midst.
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Open Clergy Positions
- St. Paul's, Benicia: Receiving names for rector
- All Saints', Redding: Receiving names for rector
- Incarnation, Santa Rosa: Reviewing names for rector
- Grace Church, Fairfield: Receiving names for priest-in-charge
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Bishop's Visitation Schedule
- Feb. 11 - St. John's, Lakeport
- Feb. 18 - St. Michael's, Anderson
- Feb. 25 - St. Paul's, Crescent City
- March 11 - St. Mary's, Elk Grove
- March 25 - Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
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Save the Date
- Feb, 19 - President's Day. Office of the Bishop will be closed.
- April 6-8 - First of two 2018 College of Congregation Development weekends
- April 12 - Retired Clergy Luncheon, Faith Episcopal Church, Cameron Park
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April 21 - Anti-Racism Training, St. Mary's, Napa;
register here.
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Bishop's Book for Lent/Spring 2018
Our Lent/Spring Bishop's Book is "A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life," by Parker Palmer. At this moment of transition in our diocese, and in a world that often seems overcome with, in Palmer's words, "the forces of fragmentation," this classic book helps us to take a look at the ways in which we can support each other in living lives of wholeness.
"Some of the most urgent work of the Church in our time involves learning to look beyond the walls of our churches to notice the ways in which God is at work in the world, and then finding the best ways to join in," says Bishop Barry.
"That noticing and finding require discernment - one of the most important spiritual abilities a Christian can have. Parker Palmer has shown that he has something to teach us about this necessary skill."
The paperback edition includes resources for studying this book together, including a DVD with interviews and other footage from Palmer's retreats at the Center for Courage and Renewal, along with a study guide for readers and leaders.
Stay tuned for more resources and opportunities to connect online with others in our diocese reading this book together.
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Diocese, CDSP Offer
Youth Ministry Symposium March 17
Join Mark Yaconelli, teacher, author and researcher, for a contemplative approach to youth ministry on
March 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at CDSP.
The Sixth Annual Youth Ministry Symposium is themed "From Anxiety to Love: A Contemplative Approach to Youth Ministry."
Based on 10 years of research in the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project (and Mark's book, "Contemplative Youth Ministry"
), this workshop helps churches, parents, and youth workers develop ministries that
transition from anxiety to love, isolation to community, passivity to compassionate action.
The symposium is $25 and includes lunch; childcare provided (please indicate your need for childcare when you register). Scholarships are available; contact the Rev. Anne Clarke for more information at [email protected].
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Youth Discipleship Conversation and Connection
Join us for a nurturing lunch and discussion around what could be emerging in youth discipleship in our diocese. Come for community and refreshment on
Saturday,
March 10, following the Listening Event at St. John's, Roseville.
This event is taking the place of the originally planned 2/9 and 3/9 visioning circles.
All are welcome. Please let us know if you're interested in attending by contacting the Rev. Anne Clarke at
[email protected].
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Read and Discuss: The Social Justice Bible Challenge
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Undocumented: What Do Faith Communities Need to Know?
Undocumented is an on-demand video teach-in for people of faith to learn about current issues related to immigration, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), temporary protected status, and sanctuary.
Learn more here.
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NEWS & EVENTS IN AND BEYOND OUR DIOCESE
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ECS's First Dunning Grant Helps El Dorado Vets Center
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Our Saviour, Placerville, received the newly established three-year Warren Dunning Social Ministry Grant from Episcopal Community Services in May 2017. The grant, in the amounts of $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 over the three years, is helping create a veterans resource center in El Dorado County.
Writes the Rev. Christine Leigh-Taylor, Project Coordinator/Reporter: We held a ribbon-cutting on Veterans' Day (Nov. 11, 2017), which was well-attended and featured congratulations by local officials. We began daily office hours on Nov. 13. The formal name for our enterprise is El Dorado Veterans Resource (EDVR) - A Permanent Stand Down. It is a program of the Military Family Support Group (MFSG), which is an established nonprofit in the county.
The purpose of EDVR is to provide emergency, walk-in help to veterans, and their family members, in the form of food and fuel gift cards, bus passes and transportation to medical appointments. We also provide canned goods and frozen meals from the MFSG food pantry. We work closely with the county Department of Veteran Affairs, and do intakes for them. We send clients to other agencies for specialized help so that we are not duplicating any services already offered. Instead, our goal is to fill gaps in services.
One of the many exciting aspects of this work is how it is involving parishioners at Church of Our Saviour. Two of us are members of the Stand Down program Committee. Another seven are pitching in as EDVR office volunteers, and expense approvers. Rural
El Dorado County has one of the highest proportions of veterans in California.
We are still seeking grant funds, as the ECS grant covers only about a third of our current budget of $14,000 per year. Donations can be made here.
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Afternoon of Classical Works Benefits Fortuna Charity
An afternoon concert Jan. 21 at St. Francis, Fortuna, raised $536 in goodwill offerings for the Fortuna Family Resource Center. It featured the talented group Tre Amici - the Rev. Nancy Streufert, flute, Helen Winfrey, clarinet, and Merry Phillips, piano - performing works by J.S. Bach, Ibert, Grundman, Schumann, and Rutter.
All of the $536 proceeds from Goodwill donations will benefit The Fortuna Family Resource Center to help with weekend meals and other needs of many students in the Fortuna school district.
Clockwise from upper left, the Rev. Nancy Streufert, Helen Winfrey and Merry Phillips.
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Clergy, Staff Changes at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
The Rev. Kathy Hopner is now working part time and living in Reno, but will continue to manage her full Sunday schedule. She adds that "I am always available to schedule meetings or coffee during the week with parents and families - Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays are always good!"
Seminarian Karen Lawler is doing her Church Divinity School of the Pacific field work this semester at Trinity. She also is a Novice with the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. She is a marriage and family therapist for Dignity Health, and
has been married to her wife Kathy for almost 25 years.
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New Bereavement Group Begins March 1
Are you grieving the death of a loved one? A new bereavement group will launch March 1 and meet weekly through May 10. Open to area Episcopalians, the group will meet at Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave.
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2018 Missional
Voices
National Gathering: April 19-21
Missional Voices will be a weekend of thinking, planning, and dreaming about the future of missional communities and innovative ministries
in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. This will be a place where dynamic incubation of new ideas is the norm - not the exception - and where people doing uncommon ministry find support and encouragement. Guest speakers include Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry. Learn more here.
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THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Making Disciples, Raising Up Saints & Transforming Communities for Christ
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